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Are recruitment agents jobless in their job too?

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  • MissSarah1972
    MissSarah1972 Posts: 1,648 Forumite
    westv wrote: »
    Wish I had 60 suitable roles to apply for a week. At the moment I'm lucky to get 6! :(
    some of them are junior roles so probably something I was doing 20 years ago but have to apply.
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,452 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    some of them are junior roles so probably something I was doing 20 years ago but have to apply.

    Mine cover junior roles too. Admin and the like.
  • MissSarah1972
    MissSarah1972 Posts: 1,648 Forumite
    westv wrote: »
    Mine cover junior roles too. Admin and the like.
    Where do you live then?
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,452 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Where do you live then?

    East Riding but I'm also searching in Leeds and York.
  • axomoxia
    axomoxia Posts: 282 Forumite
    I'm amazed that any company big enough to have a full time HR department needs to use agencies for anything other than very (i.e. FTSE250 board level and above) specialised requirements.
  • tosyn
    tosyn Posts: 67 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 9 August 2012 at 4:28PM
    yes my experience is in catering and a bit of retain in accounts (20 years or so).

    I use 4 different CV's and 2/3 cover letters.

    I make up to say 60 a week and only had 4 interviews in 8 months.

    Rejected at interviews for the following:
    • overqualified
    • not worked for a hotel before
    • not worked in property
    • not used a particular accounts system recently (they could have asked that before wasting my time).
    Rejection at application:
    • Overqualified
    • Wrong industry background/wrong accounts system used previously (and I have used 9 different systems in my time)
    • We never got round to reading your CV (too many applicants)
    • You are not working so therefore will not consider you

    Over the past few years in any profession, the supply of human resources and skills has completely out numbered the demand. So basically we have a "buyers market" in the recruiting industry.

    In the current economic climate, only few companies keep an open-minded HR policy when it comes to hiring new recruits from other industry especially in senior roles.
    That is the only reason I can think of why rejections reasons like "wrong accounting systems"....

    Though accounting practices differs from industry-to-industry, the fundamental concepts never change. So if a person can prove that he has "depth" in experience and a right aptitude to learn new tools used for accounting in their offices - in my view, he or she is employable and it is just a matter of couple of weeks training. To convince the same on an interview, you need a bit of prior preparation.

    As Jimavfc82 mentioned, it is your positive frame of mind that plays the important role in deciding your success factor in an interview. Needless to say, too much positivism may lead to over-confidence and may be looked down upon.
  • westv
    westv Posts: 6,452 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    tosyn wrote: »


    In the current economic climate, only few companies keep an open-minded HR policy when it comes to hiring new recruits from other industry especially in senior roles.

    That's the problem I'm finding. I know I have transferable skills and I'd like to think my CV shows that. However recruiters are just not interested in me even for junior roles.
  • MissSarah1972
    MissSarah1972 Posts: 1,648 Forumite
    tosyn wrote: »
    In the current economic climate, only few companies keep an open-minded HR policy when it comes to hiring new recruits from other industry especially in senior roles.
    That is the only reason I can think of why rejections reasons like "wrong accounting systems"....


    It's the experience they require so part of the criteria and it's probably because there is no one to teach you how to do stuff on the system and or they can't be bothered to.

    Also the same goes for industry. If you haven't worked in accounts for a law firm NO law firm will touch you regardless of the many years expereince you do have in other industries.

    These are not senior roles at all I am applying for.
  • kaflinkle
    kaflinkle Posts: 137 Forumite
    I think one can't generalise, in my career I've met some great ones and some truly shoddy agents as well.

    If you're starting out in a career then agencies are going to be your first port of call but through the years you'll find that the contacts you make are more useful than any recruitment agent.

    My last 4 roles have been gained without the use of an agent, just through contacts I have made throughout my 25 odd years of working.

    Oh and they do post fake jobs. My ex-boss's wife had a recruitment agency and they advertised a fake job that I applied for!
  • tosyn
    tosyn Posts: 67 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    kaflinkle wrote: »
    I think one can't generalise, in my career I've met some great ones and some truly shoddy agents as well.

    If you're starting out in a career then agencies are going to be your first port of call but through the years you'll find that the contacts you make are more useful than any recruitment agent.

    My last 4 roles have been gained without the use of an agent, just through contacts I have made throughout my 25 odd years of working.

    Oh and they do post fake jobs. My ex-boss's wife had a recruitment agency and they advertised a fake job that I applied for!


    Whereever there is a boom - agents/agencies are a legacy. This is bound to happen especially in the housing and recruitment industry.
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